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FL-260Mandatory

Petition for Custody and Support of Minor Children

California · Judicial Council of California · Effective September 1, 2021

This form is used to ask the court for orders about child custody, visitation, and support for minor children. It is used when the filing parties are not ending a marriage or domestic partnership, or in other specific situations listed on the form.

The court describes it as: Ask the court for child custody and visitation (parenting time) orders when you are not ending a marriage or domestic partnership; you are not married but have legally adopted a child together; you are not married but have a signed voluntary declaration of paternity; or the juvenile court order names you as the child's parents.

Open the official PDFfrom Judicial Council of California

Where this fits in a case

Start a case

Stage: Start a case

This form is used when parents need to ask the court for custody and visitation orders, but the action is not about ending a marriage or domestic partnership.

Usually filed by the person starting the case.

Official instructions

How-to guides published by the court for this form.

Common questions

Who fills out this form?
The person starting the case, called the petitioner, fills out this form.
Does filing this form end a marriage?
No, the form includes a notice stating that this action will not end a marriage or domestic partnership.
What must be attached to this form?
The form mentions that a completed Declaration Under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) (form FL-105) is attached.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 9, 2026. The current version took effect September 1, 2021.

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